© J.N. Urbanski

I was honoured to have been invited to a friend’s wedding on Andes’ Willow Drey Farm over the weekend and spent a gorgeous late summer day catching up with neighbors in one of the most beautiful settings in the Catskills. (It’s technically still summer until the Autumnal Equinox on September 23rd.) I already have fearsome village envy over Andes and Willow Drey Farm is not helping. It’s a stunning 65 acres of big sky country farmland with rolling hills, a grain silo, barn, lake and old-style wooden fencing throughout. See my Daily Catskill pictures here.

The previous evening the happy couple had held a picnic and bonfire at their neighbour’s property, which was once again rolling fields, this time with a glowing sunset and in plain view of three Catskill 35 peaks over 3500ft. Bearpen, Vly and Halcott Mountains are all bushwhacks and three of my intended hikes, documented in Saturday’s Daily Catskills.

© J.N. Urbanski

Last night, a departing friend held a private dinner party at Spillian (pictured below) in Fleischmanns. Spillian, which I have in the past described as my local Victorian neighbourhood pub, holds Soup Sunday Salons during the winter and various literary events throughout the summer. You can also rent Spillian for weddings and other events; it has eight rooms that sleep twenty people, a commercial kitchen and fully licensed bar.

As if the weekend couldn’t get any better, I had the privilege of interviewing Jeanette Bronee, nutritionist and author of Eat To Feel Full, this morning on my radio show on WIOX. I know Monday’s not the weekend, but today it felt like it spilled over slightly.

© J.N. Urbanski

© J.N. Urbanski